Magical Express Without Flight?

[johndavidsimmons]

Is it possible to use Magical Express to MCO without actually having a flight departure? We are adding a 7-day Carnival cruise after our Disney trip and would like transportation to the airport to catch our port transfer rather than an actual flight. Will this work? Does Disney absolutely require flight info? Am I going to have to "make something up?" Thank you.

 

[tjmw2727]

Yes, your fine. If you call DME directly rather than WDW Reservations they "should" be able to make you a reservation without a flight.

However, IMHO its just easier to book DME using a flight probably due to the computer system they use. So yes, I make up a flight I just find one that departs about 3 hours after I want to leave for the airport. Don't cut it too close though as DME can make several stops on the way to the airport and then stops at both sides of the airport.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Each Guest is entitled to one trip from MCO to WDW on or after the date the reservation starts, and one trip from WDW to MCO on or before the date the reservation ends. As long as you're going back to MCO some time on your checkout date, no problem.

Several ways to do this. When you make your DME reservations, yes, you could find a 'dummy' flight number that departs MCO about two or two and a half hours later than you'd like to get to the airport. Enter this as your return flight information, and DME will schedule your return accordingly.

Or you can book just your "to-WDW" trip in advance, and call the toll-free DME number early in your trip to arrange your return trip; and you can just tell them you need to be at the airport at "X" time, you don't (or shouldn't) need a dummy flight number.

 

[Lewisc]

But why? How many passengers? A car service from WDW to the Port may not cost much more (if you have 3 or more passengers) then the cruise transfers.

 

[johndavidsimmons]

Just two of us. Carnival transfers from MCO to Port Canaveral are $70 pp rt. Haven't done much car service research, but I found one for $220 rt plus tips. We'd probably rather stick with Carnival for the transportation.

 

[skiingfast]

Just two of us. Carnival transfers from MCO to Port Canaveral are $70 pp rt. Haven't done much car service research, but I found one for $220 rt plus tips. We'd probably rather stick with Carnival for the transportation.

You are probably right to use Carnival with just the two of you. You won't beat it with any other shuttle service maybe not even a rental.

 

[johndavidsimmons]

Thanks everyone for the responses.

 

[Lewisc]

Looks like a car service will only be about the same or even cheaper if you have 3 or 4 passengers.

It may be worth the few extra dollars for a car service. You'll save a fair amount of time, can probably get a grocery stop and it will be more convenient.

You'll have to get to your DME bus stop 10 minutes before your scheduled pickup. Your bus may pick up in a couple of other resorts, then drive to WDW. You'll have to schelp your luggage over to the cruise line pick up point.

My guess is a car service will almost get you to the port in the amount of time it will take you to get to MCO.

 

[Edd]

You definitely will save a lot of time, plus convenience using car service to the port from WDW. You can schedule to arrive at the port before the regular bus traffic cruising passengers start flowing from the airport. In other words beat the traffic onto the ship. It is nice to get on the ship before 1200 and just roam around. You can't do that if you go to the port by bus transportation.